British Picalilli Recipes

CLASSIC PICCALILLI (BRITISH PICKLED VEGGIES)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a bowl large enough to hold the water and all of the vegetables, dissolve the salt in the water.
• Add the cauliflower, pearl onions, cucumber, and capers. Stir.
• Put a plate on the vegetables to make sure they stay submerged in the brine.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large stainless steel pan, place the dark malt vinegar, white wine vinegar , pickling spice, and sugar. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and cook for 15 minutes.
• Transfer to a ceramic bowl and leave to cool overnight in the fridge.
• Gather the ingredients and remove the brined vegetables and spiced vinegar from the fridge.
• Drain and rinse the vegetables well.
• In a large pot, place the rinsed vegetables. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
• Drain the water and reserve the veggies.
• In a pan, melt the butter and add the flour, stirring thoroughly to avoid clumping.
• Cook over low heat for 5 minutes, being careful not to burn the flour.
• Strain the spiced vinegar.
• Slowly add the vinegar to the butter and flour. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until the mixture has thickened.
• Add the turmeric, mustard powder, and black pepper while stirring well. You now should have a brightly colored, thick sauce.
• Pour the thick sauce over the drained vegetables and stir well, making sure all the vegetables are coated in the sauce.
• Pour into sterilized clamp jars and seal. Preferably, wait at least one week before opening to allow the flavors to intensify.

BRITISH PICALILLI

Steps:

• Combine cauliflower, onion, carrots, cucumber, beans, and salt in a large bowl and toss well. Leave for 24 hours.
• The next day, rinse vegetables thoroughly in several changes of cold water. Drain well in a colander for 30 minutes.
• Inspect eight 12-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until picalilli is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Combine flour, curry powder, turmeric, mustard powder, and ginger in a large pot. Gradually stir in 1/2 the vinegar, blending well until a smooth paste without lumps forms. Add remaining vinegar and sugar, mix well, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring continuously. Cook until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Add vegetable mixture and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Pack picalilli into hot, sterilized jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any spills. Top with lids and screw rings on tightly.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 5 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all).
• Leave for 1 month, to allow picalilli to mature, before eating.

EASY PICCALILLI

Steps:

• Put the veg in a bowl and toss with 2 tbsp sea salt. Leave, covered at room temperature, for 4 hrs. Drain the veg and wash well under cold water. Drain well.
• Put 100ml of the vinegar in a bowl with the mustard powder, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, cumin, turmeric and flour. Mix well to make a paste.
• Heat the remaining 500ml vinegar, sugar, bay leaves and a pinch of salt until the sugar dissolves, then pour in the mustard vinegar mix, simmering and stirring for 5 mins until the mixture thickens. Fold in the drained veg, heat for 1 min taking the edge off the veg, but still retaining a bite, then remove from the heat, and pack into three 500ml warm sterilised jars. Seal and leave in a cool dark spot for six weeks or up to three months before opening. Once open, keep in the fridge and use within four weeks.

PICCALILLI

Steps:

• Dissolve the salt in the water, and add the cucumber, onions and cauliflower. Cover and leave for 24 hours. Drain the vegetables.
• In a large pan, blend the sugar, mustard and ginger with 5 cups of vinegar. Stir in salt and vegetable mixture, bring to the boil, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Blend the flour and turmeric with the remaining 1 cup of vinegar and stir into the cooked vegetables. Bring to the boil and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Pour into sterilized canning jars.
• In a large stock pot, pour water half way to top with boiling water. Using a holder, carefully lower jars into pot. Leave a 2-inch space between jars. Add more boiling water to cover them, about 2 inches above the tops. Bring to a boil and cover, processing for 15 minutes. Remove jars from pot. Put jars on a wood or cloth surface, several inches apart and allow to cool. Jars will be sealed.

PICCALILLI

Steps:

• First you need to make a salt brine.
• In a bowl large enough to hold the water and all the vegetables, dissolve the salt in the water.
• Add all the vegetables and capers.
• Put a plate onto the vegetables to make sure they stayed submerged in the brine.
• Cover and keep in the fridge for 24 hours.
• Place the two vinegars, pickling spice and sugar into a large stainless steel pan.
• Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and cook for 15 minutes.
• Leave to cool.
• The next day: remove the brine and vegetables from the fridge, drain and rinse the vegetables well.
• Place the rinsed vegetables into a pan, cover with cold water.
• Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.
• Cook for 10 minutes, reduce the heat and simmer for ten minutes, drain and leave to one side.
• In another pan, melt the butter, add the flour and stir thoroughly.
• Cook gently for 5 minutes taking care not to burn the flour.
• Strain the spiced vinegar and slowly add to the butter and flour, cook for 2 - 3 minutes or until thickened.
• Add the turmeric, mustard powder and black pepper stir well.
• You should now have a brightly colored, thick sauce.
• Pour the thick sauce over the drained vegetables and stir well making sure all the vegetables are coated in the sauce.
• Pour into sterilized jars and seal.
• Keep for at least one week before opening (preferably longer but the temptation to try it may be too strong).
• Once opened the jars must be kept in the refrigerator, unopened the jars will keep for at least six months in a dark, cool place.